By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram has admitted improvements were needed, especially in terms of discipline ahead of the T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand.
Proteas survived a dramatic contest against Afghanistan that required two super overs to win the match.
Afghanistan needed 13 runs to win off the last six balls, but pace bowler Kagiso Rabada sent down two no balls and a wide to allow the opposition to match the Proteas’ total of 187.
Markram called for a more clinical performance from his bowlers during a media briefing on Friday.
“First and foremost, discipline,” said Markram. “Not just from the no ball or anything like that, but 22 extras I think it’s been now in two games. And it’s a lot of runs in this format.”
Black Caps pace bowler Matt Henry said facing South Africa was always a challenge, in any sport.
“I think you always want to play the best sides,” said Henry. “With rugby and cricket it’s always those games you want to be a part of so it’s always exciting to come and play South Africa and nothing changes in a World Cup.
South Africa and New Zealand look set for safe passage out of Group D and into the Super Eights, leaving Afghanistan bemoaning fate and small margins, and praying for miracles from UAE and Canada – or is probably unlikely to cut it.
South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch/George Linde, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand (probable): 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Mark Chapman, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 James Neesham, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Jacob Duffy.